Chapter 133
Most of the Black Forest Tribe’s beastmen couldn’t understand how things had taken such a drastic turn.
Just yesterday, they had been distributing food to other beastmen under the shaman’s orders. Yet after just one night’s sleep, everything had changed.
First, they were told that all of the tribe’s food and medicine were gone. And it wasn’t just a small amount—it was the stockpile they had accumulated over a long period. While they didn’t particularly care about the flavored food meant for others, since it wasn’t for them anyway, they deeply mourned the loss of their own supplies.
For convenience, all the food had been stored together in one place, separated by only about two meters. But somehow, the entire supply had gone up in flames in a single night, reduced to ashes.
Now, the beastmen in the group had to figure out two major problems—how to resolve the tribe’s food crisis and how to safely leave the marketplace.
Only yesterday, they had confidently declared that as many beastmen as possible could come and receive food—there was no limit to how much could be distributed each day.
Yet now, just one day later, they were going to have to go back on their word.
Even those with high status in the tribe had witnessed firsthand how low-ranking beastmen could go mad when desperate. And they didn’t need anyone to tell them just how many hungry beastmen were out there—they had seen it for themselves while handing out food yesterday.
They didn’t even want to imagine what would happen when those beastmen realized there was no food today.
As for the shaman and Wu Ming, they were even more terrified than the rest. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have immediately decided to return to their tribe the moment they discovered the medicine was gone.
They weren’t too worried about the food—losing food wasn’t a fatal issue. At worst, they could send a fast beastman back to the tribe with a message, and within five or six days, a new shipment could arrive. Even when they saw the food burning, they were focused on finding a solution.
But when they saw that all of their medicine had been destroyed, true panic set in.
After giving what little wound medicine they had left to a few injured Black Forest Tribe beastmen, Wu Ming stayed close to the shaman. As long as they could leave the marketplace before dawn, they could quickly return to their tribe and bring back new supplies.
That was the plan for everyone who knew the truth.
However, the Black Forest Tribe had come in large numbers this time.
Aside from the low-ranking beastmen responsible for transporting supplies, there were the guards assigned to watch over them. There were also medicine apprentices, their protectors, and even more people in the shaman’s entourage.
On top of that, there were beastmen designated to cook for the entire group.
All in all, they had brought two to three hundred people.
Even if the shaman’s orders were absolute, preparing for such a large group to leave was not something that could be done instantly.
Naturally, the shaman and the medicine apprentices were the first to leave—they didn’t care about anyone else. The moment their protectors were ready, they set off without hesitation.
But as soon as they reached the outer edges of the marketplace, they realized there was no food left.
For efficiency, they had transported all their supplies into the marketplace the night before. Now, everything had been burned to cinders. Even the dried meat, which should have lasted for weeks, had only served as fuel for the fire.
If their storage location had been closer to other tribes or in a more populated area, the flames might have spread even further.
The only fortunate thing was that no one had been injured in the fire. But now, they had to find food elsewhere.
The shaman ordered some beastmen to go and borrow food from other tribes.
To avoid attracting attention, he specifically sent beastmen who rarely ventured out—like the one he had brought with him for this trip.
However, before they could secure enough food, someone suddenly accused them of impersonating members of the Black Forest Tribe.
And it wasn’t just one person—many beastmen started saying the same thing.
They varied in height, build, and species. Judging by their appearances, their animal forms were vastly different. And yet, they were all making the same accusation.
Given enough time, the shaman, the medicine apprentices, and their protectors could have come up with a reasonable explanation for the situation.
But the problem was—the crowd wasn’t going to give them that time.
Before they could even react, countless beastmen had already accepted this accusation as fact.
It was far harder to change someone’s mind once they had already formed a belief—especially when everyone around them was reinforcing the same idea.
Even those who had never considered the possibility before were now being swayed.
Before the Black Forest Tribe’s beastmen could think of a good excuse, it was already too late.
The most critical issue was that, after last night, they had no food or medicine left.
Even the shaman himself had only eaten a few bites of food that Wu Ming had saved for him. As for his personal food stash, it had been left in their now-burned-out resting area, where everything was dirty and scattered. Even if some food remained, it was inedible.
Aside from the shaman, everyone else was starving.
Even the strongest beastmen were powerless in the face of such overwhelming numbers.
In order to distribute as much medicine as possible, the shaman had deliberately chosen to arrive at the marketplace a day before it opened. These past two days were when the marketplace saw the highest number of visitors.
And now, that very crowd was the reason they were trapped.
On the Beast God Continent, beastmen revered shamans and respected large tribes.
But that very respect turned into rage the moment they believed that someone had been impersonating the Black Forest Tribe’s shaman and deceiving them.
Especially the beastmen who had received food and medicine yesterday.
At first, they were deeply grateful for the food and medicine they had received. But now, all that gratitude had turned into hatred—because the medicine they had taken was poisoned!
This realization filled all the beastmen who had consumed the medicine with shock and fear. Even though their bodies felt no different from yesterday, the moment they heard those words—especially upon realizing that these people were merely making empty claims with no actual proof—they fell into panic. Suddenly, they felt as if their bodies were aching everywhere, their discomfort magnified by fear.
The ones who had received medicine yesterday were all wounded beastmen. Even without this revelation, they would have been in pain. But now, every single one of them attributed their suffering to the medicine they had taken.
Hearing their increasingly outrageous accusations, the shaman trembled with anger. “Impossible! The medicine I gave you was for treating wounds! I am the shaman of the Black Forest Tribe—I am Wu Jiu!”
On the Beast God Continent, shamans held a prestigious status. Though their personalities varied, most renowned shamans disliked having their names mentioned. This was because people rarely addressed them by name, instead simply referring to them as “Shaman.” Particularly in places where there was only one shaman, the title became exclusive to them, as if it belonged to them alone.
In tribes with multiple shamans, the highest-ranking one was typically referred to as “Shaman,” while others had their names prefixed to the title. For example, Wu Jiu’s disciple, Wu Jiu Lun, would be addressed as “Shaman JiuLlun.” This was the internal convention used within a tribe to distinguish between shamans. However, outside their tribe, where there were no other shamans around, both Wu Jiu and his disciples and apprentices would simply be called “Shaman” by others. That title alone was enough—no need for further clarification.
Because of this tradition, Wu Jiu held himself in high regard. Whether within his tribe or beyond, he almost never mentioned his own name, nor did he like others using it to address him—not even the tribal chief. Wherever he was, the title “Shaman” belonged to him alone. While most beastmen rarely spoke his name, everyone knew that the shaman of the Black Forest Tribe was Wu Jiu.
After speaking, Wu Jiu was still fuming, expecting an apology from these people. He would not let a single one of them off the hook—not the ones who first accused him of being an imposter, nor those who followed along, nor even those who falsely claimed they were feeling unwell because of his medicine. None of them would escape his wrath!
But the scene Wu Jiu had imagined did not unfold. Instead, after a brief silence, a beastman suddenly shouted, “You’re lying! The Shaman would never say his own name! How could you possibly be the real Shaman? You must be an imposter!”
Wu Jiu had not anticipated such a response. He almost coughed up blood on the spot.
It was true—he had never said his name before. He had always thought the name “Jiu” sounded perfunctory. On the Beast God Continent, parents—no matter which tribe they were from—would try to give their children unique names. Yet his name, Jiu, had been given to him simply because he was his parents’ ninth child. It was careless, dismissive.
As a child, he had no right to protest. Worse yet, his name was often mocked by other beastmen. No matter which tribe one was in, calling out “Jiu” would almost always get a response from someone.
Wu Jiu didn’t want to be like everyone else. The first thing he did upon becoming an apprentice medicine-gatherer was change his surname. Though he was still called “Jiu,” the addition of the unique “Wu” surname set him apart. Everything changed. The beastmen who once sneered or laughed at his name now treated him with deference.
Wu Jiu had tasted the benefits of power. From then on, he worked even harder than others, whether in identifying or gathering herbs. His diligence soon paid off—he was taken under the wing of the tribe’s shaman and eventually became the first apprentice to graduate as a full-fledged shaman.
But that was not enough.
Typically, newly trained shamans would go to smaller surrounding tribes to gain experience. Once they had accumulated enough knowledge, they would settle in a larger tribe. Some tribes had multiple shamans, and the ranking among them was determined by seniority—the eldest shaman held the highest status, while the most recently joined shaman was ranked the lowest.
Having already experienced the power of status, how could Wu Jiu accept being lower than others? He schemed his way to the top of his tribe, ensuring that within his own tribe, the title of “Shaman” belonged to him alone. From that point on, there was no stopping him. His tribe grew larger and larger, and his authority expanded with it.
The Black Forest Tribe did not originally bear that name—it had once been a leopard tribe. However, as beastmen from various species joined, leopards were no longer the dominant group. Wu Jiu demanded that the chief rename the tribe, and thus, the Black Forest Tribe was born—permanently binding Wu Jiu’s name to it.
The Black Forest Tribe became the largest tribe in the Eastern Continent, and Wu Jiu became the most powerful shaman in the region. To reinforce his prestige, he forbade any other shamans from staying in the Eastern Continent. He had the entire land under his control. But even that wasn’t enough—he had bigger ambitions.
As the highest-ranking beastman in the Eastern Continent, Wu Jiu believed that no one was worthy of hearing his name. Over time, all beastmen in the East came to understand this, even the most oblivious ones like Wu Shi. None would dare mention those two syllables in his presence.
This belief was deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds. When Wu Jiu said his name, the crowd was indeed startled at first. However, after that beastman spoke, they quickly snapped out of their initial assumption of “Maybe he really is Wu Jiu.”
That’s right—Shaman Wu Jiu would never say his own name! So this must be an imposter.
Wu Jiu was now caught in an impossible situation—whether he spoke or stayed silent, he was in the wrong either way.
If he stated his identity, people suspected he was a fake. If he didn’t, they were convinced he was disguising himself.
If even Wu Jiu was in such a predicament, the others had it even worse. Medicine apprentices were just as mysterious as shamans. When apprentices from the Black Forest Tribe traveled outside, they typically introduced themselves as a shaman’s disciple. Very few people actually knew their real names. Normally, having Wu Jiu’s reputation as a backing made it easier for them to gain trust. But now, because they rarely used their real names, they couldn’t even explain their own identities.
Before long, the crowd realized that whether they were real or fake didn’t matter anymore. The moment everyone declared them imposters, then they were imposters—simple as that.
The beastmen protecting Wu Jiu and the medicine apprentices wanted to act, but just as they prepared to shift into their beast forms, someone suddenly brought up what had happened yesterday—how several beastmen who transformed had been killed by the Black Forest Tribe.
Many had witnessed that scene firsthand. Some had been so shaken that they had left immediately without even taking any food or medicine. Others had taken the supplies but still vividly remembered the fate of those few beastmen. Yesterday, these people had food, medicine, and an air of authority that made others hesitate to offend them. But today, with them surrounded and defenseless, even those who had been too afraid to speak up yesterday found their courage.
In an instant, Wu Jiu, the medicine apprentices, and their beastmen guards became public enemies, hated by all.
Ever since he became a shaman, Wu Jiu had always been revered wherever he went. Now, facing this situation, he was both furious and anxious. On top of that, his age was catching up with him. As the shouts of the surrounding beastmen grew louder, his head started to spin, and an overwhelming discomfort spread through his body. Just as he raised his hand to speak, before he could utter a single word, he collapsed to the ground.
The cries of accusation fell silent for a brief moment—only to be followed by an even louder outburst of condemnation.
“And he still dares to claim he’s not an imposter? He fainted just like that! How could a real shaman let himself end up like this?”
Wu Ming was the first to rush to Wu Jiu’s side, shaking him frantically in an attempt to wake him up.
Several tribal representatives stepped forward, suggesting that these people be taken to the center of the marketplace. That way, they could serve as a warning to any beastmen who hadn’t yet experienced such deception—so others wouldn’t fall for similar tricks in the future.
The onlookers nodded in agreement. That makes sense. After all, they themselves had almost been fooled. Those who had taken the medicine and food yesterday were even more terrified. Will we die because of it?
Hearing this concern, the beastmen who had first exposed Wu Jiu’s group spoke up.
They explained that the so-called medicine given out by these fake shamans was poisoned—but the poison was mild. After one or two days, those who had taken it would feel unwell, and there might be a few more episodes of discomfort later on. But as long as they endured, they would be fine. However, if someone ate a second dose, the poison would accumulate, growing stronger and making them suffer even more.
“Everyone, listen carefully—never eat food from unfamiliar beastmen!” one of them warned gravely. “And if you must, make sure they eat it first. Think about it—did these people eat any of that medicine yesterday?”
Upon hearing this, the surrounding beastmen thought back and quickly realized—yesterday, Wu Jiu’s group had only distributed the medicine. They had never taken any themselves. Their own meals had been separate.
If Wu Jiu had been conscious at that moment, he would have been so enraged he might have suffered internal injuries. Who do they think we are? And who do they think they are? How could a shaman of his status possibly eat the same food as common beastmen?!
But Wu Jiu could no longer argue. He remained unconscious, while his medicine apprentices anxiously crowded around him.
However, fate showed no mercy. The surrounding crowd did not dissipate until a group of well-trained beastmen arrived and began directing them away. Even then, Wu Jiu still did not wake up.
Unlike the so-called “fake Black Forest beastmen,” who were merely accused of impersonation, the so-called “fake shamans and medicine apprentices” were treated as a greater threat. The beastmen in charge of restraining them insisted that they might try to escape, so they bound their hands and feet tightly. To further ensure they couldn’t be recognized or rescued, they even covered their heads with layers of thick beast hide.
“What if their accomplices try to rescue them?” one beastman suggested.
The others thought for a moment—That’s true. So they followed suit, covering the faces of the entire group before dragging them to the center of the marketplace to begin their grand lesson on how to avoid being deceived.
The beastmen leading the effort to capture and restrain the so-called imposters were highly skilled speakers. Seizing this opportunity, they imparted various “lessons” to the crowd—truths about the world that many had never considered before.
For instance, “There’s no such thing as free food. If you covet someone else’s food, what they really want is you.”
Or, “Be cautious when joining another tribe. Who knows if they’re just tricking you into becoming their laborer?”
The gathered beastmen listened intently. Even those eager to exchange salt and return to their tribes paused to absorb this newfound wisdom. These were things they had never heard before—things they would surely share once they returned home.
Meanwhile, the captives—bound, gagged, and utterly unable to defend themselves—could do nothing but endure. It was one thing for their captors to teach caution against deception, but they also slipped in veiled references to the Black Forest Tribe’s actions, carefully phrased to imply that these were the methods of ill-intentioned tribes.
They never explicitly named names. They only sprinkled the accusations subtly throughout their speech. Even those who deeply revered the Black Forest Tribe failed to realize that these warnings were, in fact, about them.
From the moment this group had entered the marketplace, Bai Meng had spotted them. Even though most had their heads covered, she recognized the familiar beast hides they wore. Until today, these were the same beastmen who had traveled with her.
She also heard the accusations against them, yet she had no chance to speak in their defense. Everyone was convinced that they were imposters—frauds pretending to be members of the Black Forest Tribe. If she rushed over to explain, not only would no one believe her, but she’d likely be captured as well.
As for the reasons why these people were deemed imposters, Bai Meng had no way to refute them. The medicine had been destroyed. The food had been burned. Such coincidences were too unlikely to be mere accidents. And yet, that was exactly what had happened.
Bai Meng began to regret lingering near the marketplace for so long. But regret was useless now. She was already being held, desperately searching for Wu Jiu and Wu Ming—only to find that no matter where she looked, they were nowhere to be seen.
Wu Jiu and Wu Ming were still at the same spot. The crowd loathed swindlers, but since these two had already collapsed, what more could they do? In the end, a few beastmen stepped forward and suggested taking them away and locking them up.
No one objected. There were more pressing matters at hand—like spreading the news to the rest of the marketplace to prevent further deception, or finding a place to wait for the poison to take effect.
A considerable number of beastmen had taken the medicine yesterday—mostly injured ones who had arrived early. Apart from those who had quietly left after noticing something was off, or those who had been wary from the start, almost everyone had taken it.
The leading beastmen had estimated that the poison would activate within a day. It wouldn’t be fatal, but it would cause severe discomfort. Those who had consumed the medicine felt a mix of relief and anxiety—relieved that they wouldn’t die, yet dreading how much pain they would have to endure.
They didn’t have to wait long. Someone soon provided a live demonstration.
By the time Wu Jiu and the medicine apprentices had been taken away, the remaining beastmen had only just set out. But before they had gotten far, the lower-ranked beastmen who had taken the medicine all began to fall ill at once.
The guards watching over them knew that these people would suffer one or two episodes of illness per day, and that only Wu Ming’s medicine could relieve their symptoms. But Wu Ming had already fled with Wu Jiu. There was nothing they could do now except wait for the episode to pass.
The symptoms weren’t brief, but the guards didn’t dare leave. They had already made a serious mistake by failing to guard the provisions, forcing the shaman to return to the tribe early. If they failed to control these beastmen as well, even with the chief’s protection, their punishment would be severe.
However, they underestimated just how violent the symptoms would make the afflicted beastmen. In a moment of distraction, several managed to escape.
This was a disaster.
One reason why these guards had taken so long to depart was that they had been preparing to disguise the lower-ranked beastmen. Losing a few low-status workers within the tribe was no big deal. Whether it was the chief or the shaman, neither would bat an eye—as long as those missing beastmen were dead.
But runaways?
That was a completely different matter.
Escaped beastmen could carry secrets beyond the tribe’s borders. Even if the shaman remained unaware, the chief would never let such a thing slide.
Panic set in immediately. The guards rushed to recapture them. But in their frantic attempts, they inadvertently created more openings—allowing even more of the sick beastmen to break free.
In total, dozens of afflicted beastmen bolted toward the marketplace.
The guards watched their retreating figures in stunned silence. They exchanged glances, and in each other’s eyes, they saw the same unspoken thought—
Run.
They couldn’t return to the tribe.
Letting low-ranked beastmen escape was an unforgivable crime—far worse than killing them. Losing one low-ranked worker simply meant one less laborer. And there was no shortage of beastmen eager to join the tribe. Luring in new ones was easy, even selective—those too skinny or weak were simply rejected.
But escapees?
Runaways meant the tribe would have to send multiple teams to hunt them down.
Under normal circumstances, the guards might have immediately given chase to make up for their mistakes. However, they were too close to the marketplace, and the sick beastmen—though visibly unwell—were running at an alarming speed. Even if they caught up, it would be inside the marketplace.
If those low-ranked beastmen exposed the fact that they had been beaten, things would take a turn for the worse. Among beastmen, there were always those who couldn’t stand to see the weak being bullied. While the guards’ numbers were significant, the beastmen in the marketplace far outnumbered them.
And even if, by some stroke of luck, they weren’t attacked, if those runaways started talking about what really went on inside the Black Forest Tribe, the chief would undoubtedly have them all killed.
Their only option was to flee.
Right now, they were far from the tribe, and more importantly, they weren’t with the shaman. If they ran now, they still had a chance to escape.
However, some among them hesitated—those with family back in the tribe. They feared punishment, yes, but if they fled, would they ever see their loved ones again?
“If you don’t run, you’re dead!” one beastman snapped impatiently. “Either way, you’ll never see them again!”
Without giving them time to waver, he immediately transformed into his beast form and bolted in the opposite direction of the marketplace.
The others, realizing that he was their leader, quickly followed suit. There was no other plan—sticking with him was their only option.
The hesitant beastmen saw more and more of their group slipping away. Finally, one clenched his teeth and declared, “I’m leaving too.”
He didn’t dare return to the tribe. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of punishment awaited them there.
Once one person took the lead, the rest quickly made up their minds. Soon, the group of dozens had dwindled to just over ten.
One among them remained calm, analyzing their situation. If they returned to the tribe now, their fate would be far worse. The fewer of them there were, the more severe the punishment would be. If a large group was punished too harshly, it could disrupt the tribe’s stability. But now? With only a handful left, the chief’s fury over both the escaped workers and the deserters would fall entirely on them.
He had no doubt—they’d be killed to vent the chief’s anger.
In an instant, the remaining beastmen abandoned their hesitation. One by one, they turned and ran in the opposite direction of the marketplace.
Meanwhile, the sick beastmen had lost all sense of reason. Some had transformed into their beast forms, while others remained in their human shapes, but they all shared the same wild, confused state. Even those with no medical knowledge could tell that something was terribly wrong.
The crowd of sick beastmen rushed toward the marketplace. The area was packed with people, and as soon as they saw the approaching group, their first instinct was to stop them—if these lunatics got inside, chaos would break out.
Beastmen who had been resting under trees or deep in thought turned their heads toward the commotion. Most of the crowd that had been watching the earlier spectacle had already gone inside the marketplace. Those who remained were either wounded and unfit for travel or had taken the medicine yesterday and were still shaken by fear.
When they saw a few uninjured beastmen struggling to hold back the sick ones, several lightly wounded individuals stood up, ready to help.
Then, all of a sudden, a voice rang out—
“These are the ones who’ve been poisoned for a long time.”
The beastmen who had taken the medicine yesterday stared at the speaker in shock. What did you just say???
“These are the ones who took the poison from those people earlier,” the voice clarified.
The speaker was Ying Quan. He had seen these beastmen fall ill the night before. Even though last night had been dark and today was bright, there was no way he could mistake them.
It was true that food was scarce among beastmen, but not many suffered from both extreme starvation and relentless heavy labor. Most beastmen still lived in caves and did little beyond eating and surviving. This meant their daily workload was limited.
If food was plentiful, they might grow fatigued from carrying large loads, resulting in bent backs and aching shoulders. If food was scarce, they’d mostly be exhausted from walking long distances to hunt. They’d be thin, yes, but not this thin—not to the point where their spines had deformed from years of malnutrition and overwork.
The signs were obvious.
These were Black Forest Tribe slaves.
Through Bai Tu’s earlier explanation, Ying Quan now understood that these people had been consuming poison for a long time. They were addicted to the pain. Each time they had an episode, they craved more of the poison to ease their suffering.
This time, Ying Quan didn’t bother referring to the disguised shamans—he directly called them “those people.”
Because he knew—once these afflicted beastmen made it through their withdrawal episode, they would tell everyone the truth.
Previously, they had claimed Wu Jiu and Wu Ming were imposters from the Black Forest Tribe because they hadn’t been able to expose them outright.
But now?
There was no need to hide anything anymore.
The Black Forest Tribe held a high status in the hearts of many beastmen. Even if people learned that the reality of the tribe was completely opposite from their revered image, no one could just openly speak ill of them.
If someone did criticize the Black Forest Tribe outright, they wouldn’t even need to wait for the tribe to retaliate—those who admired and trusted the Black Forest Tribe would be the first to refute them.
Several tribes were well aware of the true nature of the Black Forest Tribe, but up until now, the most they could do was drive people away discreetly. They couldn’t openly stop others from accepting medicine—because if they did, they would have to explain why, which would lead to more problems.
But that was before.
Now, with these beastmen who had personally suffered under the Black Forest Tribe stepping forward as proof, even if they couldn’t bring the tribe down in one blow, they could at least make some of the more clear-headed beastmen see the truth.
The Black Forest Tribe rarely interacted with outsiders unless they needed more beastmen. Only then would they emerge and spread tales about how wonderful life in their tribe was.
Those who were “fortunate” enough to be invited saw it as a stroke of incredible luck. Before they had even entered the Black Forest Tribe, they would boast about how great it was.
This was precisely how most tribes formed their impression of the Black Forest Tribe. These newcomers, overwhelmed with excitement, exaggerated its greatness. And since those who had joined the Black Forest Tribe were never allowed to leave, they couldn’t come back and debunk the lies.
As a result, more and more uninformed beastmen grew envious of life in the Black Forest Tribe. Those who were invited in felt ecstatic, while those who weren’t desperately sought ways to get in.
But now, the very people who had been there would reveal what life in the Black Forest Tribe was truly like.
While Ying Quan organized beastmen to restrain the sick ones, he couldn’t help but marvel at Bai Tu’s foresight. The man knew these people would relapse. He had even provided detailed instructions on how to handle them.
Ying Quan had already traveled across multiple continents with the chief and his mate, witnessing more than most beastmen ever would. Yet, somehow, Bai Tu’s knowledge surpassed even his.
Meanwhile, the beastmen assigned to help tie up the sick ones felt nothing but despair.
These suffering beastmen… were their future.
Why had they ever gone to accept that medicine?
*
Elsewhere, Bai Tu had just finished arranging for Bai Meng to be captured and was now heading to observe the situation in the marketplace.
He had specifically chosen beastmen with strong speaking skills for the task—including Bai Qi. Beastmen were easily deceived, largely because they lacked experience. Information spread slowly in these lands, mostly through word of mouth.
If someone fell victim to a scam, the news rarely traveled to other tribes. Some didn’t even survive to warn others, making it impossible to prevent future deceptions.
But now, following Bai Tu’s plan, Bai Qi crafted several fictional yet believable cautionary tales, using storytelling as a way to teach the beastmen how to avoid being tricked.
For example:
“Last year, I had a friend who met a stunningly beautiful beastman. That beastman promised to become his mate but refused to join another tribe. My poor, naive friend, blinded by love, swore he would join the other’s tribe instead. But when he arrived, he discovered the truth—his ‘mate’ already had two partners. He had been lured in just to be an unpaid laborer. Every day, he was forced to hunt and prepare food for four people. His life was utterly miserable.”
Or:
“The year before that, another friend of mine found a weak, starving beastman who claimed to be the lost child of a tribal chief. The poor thing begged to be taken back home, promising two cows and a sheep as a reward. But when they arrived, my friend realized he had been tricked—this so-called ‘tribe’ was actually a prison for kidnapped beastmen. The tribe forced captives to work while the real tribe members sat around, enjoying the fruits of their labor.”
“And as for the one who lured my friend there? He had once been a victim himself. The rule of the tribe was simple: trick ten people into joining, and you’ll finally be treated as one of them.”
“That tribe was located in such a remote area that no one ever discovered it. My friend only managed to escape by pretending he was going out to recruit more victims.”
And another:
“I had a friend who met someone new at the marketplace. They had a friendly meal together that night… but the next thing he knew, he woke up tied up in an unfamiliar tribe. Turns out, someone had traded him for a basketful of meat. And just like that, he had become a low-ranked slave in that tribe.”
Bai Tu had taken real Black Forest Tribe practices, combined them with true stories of past scams, and enhanced them with creative details—successfully planting suspicion and awareness in the minds of the beastmen.
Even those who had never thought about scams before—those who had no concept of deception—were captivated by these bizarre, shocking tales.
After listening, they even began discussing among themselves.
During their discussion, someone couldn’t resist teasing Bai Qi. “Damn, Bai Qi, how do you have so many scammed friends?”
Bai Qi sighed dramatically. “Can’t be helped. They were all just too gullible.”
The surrounding beastmen nodded in agreement. “Yeah… too gullible.”
They actually pitied those fools who got tricked.
It didn’t take long for someone to realize that yesterday’s food distribution had been the first step in their deception.
“They were definitely planning to give us food for one day, then tell us there wasn’t enough and that they needed to return to the tribe to get more. If we followed them back, we’d be locked up—just like the others who were tricked! We’d be forced to work for them!”
A beastman, connecting Bai Qi’s stories with what had happened yesterday, confidently laid out their supposed plan, exposing their scheme with absolute conviction.
The Black Forest Tribe beastmen, bound hand and foot, screamed internally. That’s not what happened at all! Why would we deceive people like that?! There really was food—it was just burned!
But unfortunately for them, no one at the marketplace could read minds. They had no way of knowing the truth. Upon hearing this theory, the gathered beastmen had a collective moment of realization, and soon, more inconsistencies from the previous day began surfacing.
“The medicine was a trick too! First, they lured us into taking it twice, then later, they’d give us a drug that makes people pass out. The next time we woke up, we’d already be captured!”
What had started as an anti-deception awareness session quickly turned into a full-blown conspiracy revelation.
Just as the discussion was reaching its peak, someone suddenly shouted—
“Aren’t these the beastmen from the Black Forest Tribe?!”
The words sent shockwaves through the crowd, instantly silencing all conversations.
The beastman who had shouted continued, “Last year, our chief was injured, and we went to the Black Forest Tribe to seek a shaman. I saw this person there!”
Hearing this, the beastmen who had been eagerly learning about scams from Bai Qi were stunned. They exchanged uncertain glances, their earlier confidence shaken.
Could it be that these people weren’t imposters? Were they actually from the Black Forest Tribe?
Wu Cong, who had finally managed to shake off the beast hide covering him, exhaled in relief. Finally! Someone recognized them! As long as their true identity was acknowledged, let’s see how these people try to explain this!
But the outcome was something Wu Cong had never expected.
Before the crowd could fully process this shocking revelation, another commotion erupted outside the marketplace.
“Everyone, come take a look! These are beastmen who joined the Black Forest Tribe!”
This statement caused an even greater stir than the previous one. After all, whether or not the captured ones were truly from the Black Forest Tribe was still uncertain—but the ones outside? There was no doubt about them. Too many people were saying the same thing.
Humans are naturally drawn to where the majority is looking.
If actual Black Forest Tribe members were outside, they could finally confirm whether the captured ones were real or fake.
With that thought, the crowd surged toward the marketplace entrance.
But when they saw the so-called “Black Forest Tribe beastmen” outside, they were stunned.
The beastmen of the Black Forest Tribe had always been known for their strength and power. But these ones… were thinner than even the average beastman here.
It was then that someone recalled the exact words from earlier— “Beastmen who joined the Black Forest Tribe.”
At that moment, one of the emaciated beastmen wiped his face, revealing himself more clearly to the crowd.
“I am Hu Wan—the one who was tricked into joining the Black Forest Tribe!”
Thank you for the chapter!